Health Needs and Permanent Supportive Housing

Posted by Iain De Jong10sc on May 30, 2012

Do all chronically homeless people have health issues requiring permanent supportive housing? No. But the design and delivery of PSH needs to heed the health needs of chronically homeless people, while avoiding the pitfalls of a solely medical model in service delivery.

Homeless individuals have poorer health than the general population[1]. However, these individuals with poor physical and mental health and substance use issues can achieve stable housing[2]. Research from Toronto indicates that 72% of people in a Housing First program report improved physical health once moved into housing; however, while people with longer-term homelessness were likely to report improvements in mental health after moving into scattered-site housing with supports, they were less likely to report improvements in physical health[3].

There are statistically significant differences in self-reported physical health and self-reported mental health amongst homeless people, with homeless people fairing worse than the general population[4]. Length of homelessness has a direct link to the severity of the health issues, with people experiencing homelessness 5 or more years much more likely to have chronic health issues, and multiple chronic health issues much more prevalent amongst those homeless for a long time[5]. This would seem to suggest that PSH should first focus on those that have been homeless for longer periods of time with co-occurring health issues rather than focusing solely on health issues in the assessment.

The various types of specific health issues confronted by homeless people are numerous. For example, cardiovascular disease is more frequent than the general population[6], and can be compounded by the high propensity of cigarette smokers (almost 9 out of 10 according to self-reports) within the homeless population. Serious health conditions found to be statistically significant in difference from the general population include: Heart Disease (5 times greater than the general population), Diabetes (2 times greater than the general population), Arthritis or Rheumatism (3 times greater than the general population), Epilepsy (20 times more likely than the general population), Liver Disease, Hepatitis C (30 times greater than the general population), Hepatitis B, Cancer (4 times greater than the general population), Stomach or Intestinal Ulcers, Allergies (other than food allergies), and Migraines[7].

Tolomiczenko and Goering almost 25 years ago demonstrated that mental illness does not usually cause homelessness[8]. While not a precipitating factor, it can be exacerbated by the experience of homelessness. Stereotypes of the homeless population infiltrated with high rates of psychosis like schizophrenia are unfounded. While there will always be a smaller percentage of homeless people that experience schizophrenia – 6% lifetime prevalence amongst the homeless population in Canada and 10-13% found amongst rigorous US studies[9], the truth is that depression and anxiety disorders with alarming rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are more common[10].

The costs and service use impacts of mental illness on emergency rooms amongst homeless persons, however, warrants attention. According to CIHI more than 50% of emergency room visits and hospitalizations amongst homeless people in any given year are a result of mental illness[11]. Given reported improvements in mental health and wellness after a housing intervention in Housing First[12], emphasis on housing is warranted to decrease these expensive health utilization costs to address compromised mental wellness experienced while homeless.

There is a high rate of brain injury amongst homeless people[13], but interestingly this often happens younger in life and predates their homelessness – as high as 58% amongst homeless men and 42% amongst homeless women[14]. Recent research on youth homelessness has also demonstrated that more than 50% of youth that experience homelessness have experienced a brain injury[15]. Given cognitive limitations and issues with impulse control that happen amongst people with brain injuries, different housing models can be necessary within PSH to provide a supportive environment that is attuned to the behaviours that these conditions may present.

Frequency of alcohol use and abstinence rates are not particularly dissimilar between the homeless and non-homeless populations[16]. However, instances of heavy drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) and rates of substance addiction are higher amongst the homeless population, as is the consumption of non-beverage alcohol where almost 10% of the homeless population uses daily[17]. Problems with alcohol use disorders are between 6-7 times more prevalent amongst the homeless population, and especially prevalent amongst homeless men where upwards of 60% will have an alcohol use disorder[18]. Use of tobacco is prevalent in almost 90% of the homeless population compared to 18% of the general population[19], which also needs to be taken into account when designing housing and service options – a rate that is most likely going to remain high even with the availability of cessation programs. While it is difficult to accurately and comprehensively quantify the depth and breadth of the use of other drugs amongst the homeless population (illicit drugs), US research from a couple of decades ago found the median prevalence of drug use disorders to be 30%[20]. The “drug of choice” within the homeless population is usually influenced by geography and ebbs and flows in popularity relative to availability and price. It would seem, however, that for several decades alcohol (including non-palatable alcohol), crack cocaine, marijuana, oxy and methamphetamine have been popular. Given the propensity for mental illness and substance use disorders to happen concurrently, it is important for PSH to take this into consideration. Moreover, given the rate of substance use there is a compelling case for PSH to embrace a harm reduction framework relative to substance use – neither condoning nor supporting, but accepting the rate of use as fact and commonplace.

Overall, mortality rates are much higher amongst homeless people than the general population. For example, a study from the late 1990s showed homeless youth in Montreal have a mortality rate 9 times higher for males and 31 times higher for women than other youth in Quebec[21]. A frequently cited study by Dr. Stephen Hwang[22], demonstrates that amongst the shelter using population in Toronto that mortality rates are 8.3 times higher than the mean for 18-24 year olds; 3.7 times higher than the mean for 25-44 year olds; and, 2.3 times higher than the mean for 45-64 year olds. Higher mortality rates and advanced ageing can be improved upon through PSH that offers safety and security to its residents with access to care that people may have been unable to access while homeless…or at least not sustainably or proactively or intensely access while homeless.

It is important to consider that street homeless individuals (sometimes referred to as “rough sleepers”) have poorer health than their shelter-using peers[23]. It is amongst the street homeless population that there is a greater incidence of chronic homelessness. Offers of PSH must keep this in mind in some respects when considering prospective tenants. If PSH looks solely to shelter environments it will likely miss some clients that would most benefit from what is being offered. Links between PSH and street outreach can be very important and effective in service delivery.

But health isn’t the only consideration. We don’t want PSH to become parallel health care providers to the mainstream health services. Health services, however, should be integrated as part of the service delivery, not the sole focus of service delivery. A more holistic view that also encompasses the need for the likes of meaningful daily activities, social networks, self care, avoidance of high risk and exploitive situations, etc are also beneficial in a PSH environment for it to be as health as possible.

[22] Hwang SW. Mortality among men using homeless shelters in Toronto, Ontario. Journal of the American Medical Association 2000:283:2152-7

[23] Gelberg L and LS Linn. Assessing the physical health of homeless adults. Journal of the American Medical Association 1989;262:1973-9.

About Iain De Jong

Leader. Edutainer. Coach. Consultant. Professor. Researcher. Blogger. Do-gooder. Potty mouth. Positive disruptor. Relentless advocate for social justice. Comedian. Dad. Minimalist. Recovering musician. Canadian citizen. International jetsetter. Living life in jeans and a t-shirt. Trying really hard to end homelessness in developed countries around the world, expand harm reduction practices, make housing happen, and reform the justice system. Driven by change, fuelled by passion. Winner of a shit ton of prestigious awards, none of which matter unless change happens in how we think about vulnerability, marginality, and inclusion.